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Key Takeaways
We know searching for the best mattress for your unique needs can be daunting. When our Reviews Team asked a focus group of older adults about their recent mattress shopping experiences, participants said they waited a few months to a couple of years to make a decision. In the meantime, they slept poorly every night on their old mattresses while looking for the best mattress.
If finding a mattress that’s right for you is all that’s standing between you and a good night’s sleep, we want to help you make that decision quickly and confidently. We’ve spent more than 1,000 hours researching and evaluating more than 130 models to develop a list of the best mattresses on the market. Each one has been personally tested to determine overall quality and analyze each feature, including firmness, support, and pressure relief. Our testing results are detailed under each mattress we review, so you can see why it earned a spot on our list.
The Nectar Premier is our top recommendation, but we know picking a mattress is a personal experience. One of our focus group participants told us, “A bed is like your underwear: It’s yours. It has to feel good to you.” Factors like sleeping position, body type, and chronic pain affect what you should look for in a mattress. But you won’t know if a mattress works for you until you try it yourself, which is why all of our top picks meet or exceed the industry standard of a 100-night trial period and have a straightforward returns process.
Below, we’ll tell you about the top nine mattress models currently on our list. We’ll also explain our testing procedures and help you understand what to look for in a new mattress.
We looked for the following features when choosing the best mattresses:
Mattresses with multiple firmness options, good lower-back support, and contouring top layers should appeal to a variety of sleepers.
Unique to NCOA Adviser, a high functional support score refers to a mattress that’s easy to get in and out of due to a balance of bounce, support, and firmness.
We looked for mattresses with good pressure relief along the shoulders, back, and hips for a peaceful night’s sleep.
We preferred mattress brands with free setup and delivery, lengthy trial periods, and positive reputations among consumers.
Want to learn more about each of our top picks and why we chose them? Check out this short video, where we show exactly how the best mattresses of 2024 stack up in key categories like lower-back support, pressure relief, cooling properties, and more.
The Nectar Premier is our best overall pick from this brand for its relatively low price, customer perks, and comfortable feel.
The brand exceeds industry standards by offering a one-year trial period, a limited lifetime warranty, and white-glove delivery. Although white-glove delivery costs an extra $199, you can save money on your overall cost by shopping when Nectar has one of its frequent promotions, making it a great pick for the best affordable mattresses. For example, a queen-size foam Premier can be purchased for less than $1,000 during sales.
Price and perks are important, but so is comfort. According to our testing, the Nectar Premier is a great choice for side sleepers of all body types due to its excellent pressure relief, which we attribute to the all-foam composition. The mattress provides a decent amount of support, but it may not be strong enough for higher-weight (more than 250 pounds) back or stomach sleepers. And because this mattress has a good amount of sinkageⓘ Good contouring sinkage can give sleepers the feeling of being “hugged” by their mattress, but too much sink can result in misalignment of the spine, especially for stomach and back sleepers. , it’s not great for those who need more stability to change positions or get in and out of bed. If you want a bouncier, more responsive surface with better overall support, we recommend trying the hybrid version of this mattress instead, which retails for $300 more than the all-foam Nectar Premier.
We also recommend this mattress for couples. Our testers said they were impressed by the motion isolation ⓘ The ability of a mattress to keep movement on one side of the bed from affecting the other side. , since they could barely feel the other tester move as they changed positions. They were also impressed by the cooling capabilities of this mattress, even with two people lying on the surface.
Foam mattresses are notorious for trapping heat, and our testers noticed they felt warmer than other mattresses. But we used a temperature gunⓘ A device that measures temperatures through the thermal radiation left behind on a surface to measure the true temperature change after lying on the mattress for five minutes, which revealed only a 4-degree increase. This means the surface did a good job regulating heat, likely due to the phase-change materialⓘ A material that stores or releases heat to maintain a constant temperature built into the Premier’s top memory foam layer. If you or your bed partner sleep hot, you may want to consider a mattress specifically made for cooling.
Unfortunately, this mattress is too soft and has too much sinkage to earn a good functional support score, so it may be difficult to move around on this mattress or push up to a sitting or standing position.
“It’s really comfortable for side sleeping. My shoulders weren’t jutting into the air. I just sank into the mattress.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Nectar Premier has a star rating of 4.6 out of five from more than 5,800 reviews on the brand’s product page. Most reviewers are satisfied with their purchase and say it’s a comfortable mattress that has improved their sleep.
“This mattress is so comfortable and so easy to set up. The price was incredibly reasonable. So happy with this purchase.”
— Jennier, verified buyer, 6/3/2024
“I bought this mattress because it was the best one, in my opinion, according to how it’s made and its price. It has been very comfortable for the month that I have had it.”
— Grant B., verified buyer, 5/13/2024
“This Nectar Premier memory foam mattress is as comfortable as my previous Tempurpedic Adapt mattress, for far less cost.”
— Gary K., verified buyer, 4/9/2024
If you are wanting to learn more about this mattress, read our Nectar mattress review.
The Saatva Classic stands out as our Best Innerspring Mattress for its ability to suit many different body types and sleep positions. We’re also impressed by Saatva’s one-year trial period, lifetime warranty, and free white-glove delivery with every mattress.
We tested the luxury firm option, Saatva Classic’s medium-firm level. Our testers rated it a seven out of 10 on the firmness scale. With 6.5 being the true medium in the industry, the Saatva Classic luxury firm is firmer than expected. This suggests that lighter-weight (less than 130 pounds) side sleepers may feel uncomfortable pressure buildup at prominent joints, particularly the shoulders. Saatva offers a softer version that may be better suited for these side sleepers. This mattress also comes in a firmer version for those who love sleeping on denser mattresses.
The Saatva Classic consists of two spring layers, giving it a bouncy, responsiveⓘ Responsiveness describes how much surface bounce a mattress has and how it responds to pressure or the sleeper’s movements, making it easier to move around and change sleeping positions. surface that’s ideal for those who want a mobility boost. We were also impressed by this mattress’s reinforced edge support, which effectively pushes our testers back into the center of the mattress if they roll too close to the edge. We’ve tested few mattresses that offer protective edge support, making the Saatva Classic our gold standard. Excellent edge support also bolsters this mattress’s high functional support score, which means this mattress is a great choice for those who need a stable surface to safely get out of bed.
Lastly, our testers appreciated how supportive this mattress felt at the lower back—an area where 59% of mattress shoppers say they have pain, according to our January 2024 survey. The Saatva Classic provides zoned supportⓘ Multiple firmness levels, or “zones,” built into a mattress so it can support different areas of the sleeper’s body in different ways for the lower back through its reinforced springs and an extra layer of memory foam along the center of the mattress. This design helps to maintain your spine’s natural curve when you lie on your back and reinforces your midsection when you lie on your side. In contrast, mattresses without zoned support may sag in the middle. Some people will find strong lower back support helpful in managing their lower back pain, but talk to your doctor to ensure this type of mattress will help your specific condition.
The Saatva Classic comes in two heights: 11.5 and 14.5 inches. If you want to use the Saatva Classic with an adjustable bed, choose the 11.5-inch option. The taller 14.5-inch option doesn’t bend properly on an adjustable base.
“I actually felt most comfortable sleeping on my stomach or back when testing the Saatva Classic. The lower-back support is fantastic. I did feel a bit of pressure while on my side, so I would suggest side-sleepers consider the soft option instead of the luxury firm.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Saatva Classic has a star rating of 4.8 out of five from more than 3,400 reviews on its product page. Reviewers typically praise Saatva customer service and delivery personnel, and many mention the mattress has relieved aches and pains and improved their sleep quality.
“After many months, if not the last couple of years, of suffering from back pain and other aches, I concluded it might be the mattress. I finally purchased the Luxury Firm, and it has been a game changer! No more back pain. I’m a back, side and occasional stomach sleeper. It has been comfortable in every position. Customer service and the setup team were great.”
— Tracey H., verified buyer, 5/22/2024
“My mattress was delivered on time by two kind gentlemen. They were very efficient and careful, and I appreciate their efforts. This is my second time ordering a mattress from Saatva and it has been a wonderful experience each time. I would highly recommend them to my friends and family.”
— Micaela J., verified buyer, 4/22/24
“I bought this mattress based on the recommendation for a mid-weight side sleeper. I usually prefer the soft feel of floating on a cloud, so I was concerned about this being a ‘firm’ mattress. It was delivered and installed right on time. That night I slept great compared to my old mattress, where I was waking up to roll over a few times a night. It’s been a week and I’m still sleeping great on this mattress. It’s firm yet has the ‘luxury’ of softness. My lighter-weight side-sleeping wife is also sleeping well on this. I’ll be keeping this mattress and my initial concerns about it are gone. Very pleased and happy I took the chance!”
— George, verified buyer on 3/26/24
Learn more about the Saatva Classic in our full Saatva mattress review.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is our best luxury pick because its plush pillow top and medium firmnessⓘ Brands rate firmness on a scale from one to 10. One is the softest, and 10 is the firmest. It’s generally accepted that 6.5 is considered medium on this scale, although we also consider five or 5.5 out of 10 ratings to fall in the medium category. lend a luxurious feel. The mattress accommodates most sleep positions and most light-to-average-weight sleepers. This hybridⓘ Hybrid mattresses combine the features of both innerspring and foam mattresses, with springs surrounded by a thick comfort layer of foam or latex. mattress features four layers of foam, a layer of individually wrapped coils, and a pillow top made with soft, breathable fabric. Together, the materials support the body and relieve pressure at the hips and shoulders.
Our team believes the comfy pillow top contributed to the Helix Midnight Luxe’s excellent pressure relief score during our pressure mapⓘ A mat with sensors that detects pressure buildup when someone lies across it testing. When our team tests pressure relief, we use a pressure map to determine where force concentrates on the body. For most people, the main areas of force are the shoulders, hips, and midsection. Side sleepers are especially affected by force against the hip and shoulder pressure pointsⓘ This refers to the bed’s stability along the edges . Back sleepers are affected by force against their backside.
Blue and green results are ideal, as they highlight areas of low pressure. Red and orange are not ideal, as they highlight areas of high pressure. The Midnight Luxe displayed blue and green results for back and side positions, which means it provides great pressure point relief.
Like the Saatva Classic, the Helix Midnight Luxe has zoned lower-back support, which means the coils beneath the shoulders and hips are softer, while the coils along the lower back are stronger. This helps maintain a neutral spineⓘ The spine’s natural curves at the neck, middle, and lower (lumbar) sections and prevent uncomfortable sagging. We also noticed the reinforced coils along the perimeter of the mattress, which provide excellent edge supportⓘ.
Together, this mattress’s strong edge support, bouncy coils, and good surface support earned it a high functional support score. While it’s relatively easy to change positions on this mattress compared to all-foam mattresses and some memory foam hybrids, testers said some effort was required to push against the soft pillow top.
Unfortunately, the trade-off for a bouncy mattress is often poor motion isolation. When our Reviews Team tested it, they found a significant amount of movement transferred to the second tester’s side. People who share a bed and sleep lightly may not want to choose this mattress. Instead, you might want to consider the DreamCloud Original.
Our team knows mattress preference is personal, so our picks may not always be what you need. Helix also acknowledges this, so they developed a mattress quiz with questions about your sleep habits and preferences to find out which Helix model best fits your needs. This brand offers several different options with a range of firmnesses, so you’re bound to find something you (and your sleeping partner) will enjoy.
Helix offers its customers a 100-night trial period (the industry standard) to try your mattress in the comfort of your home before committing to your purchase. If you choose the Midnight Luxe, you get a 15-year warranty for manufacturer defects. Unfortunately, Helix does not offer any in-home delivery (also known as white-glove delivery) options, so your bed will be delivered to you in a box. This is typical for most brands. We recommend recruiting help or hiring a local furniture moving company to carry this heavy mattress into your home.
“The material looks high quality, and I’m surprised by how much the ‘pillowy’ top can support my body—although it’s more likely the support is coming from the layer underneath. I feel like I’m in sleep mode.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Helix Midnight Luxe has a star rating of 4.4 out of five from more than 6,100 reviews on its product page. Many people say it’s comfortable and supportive.
“Amazing mattress, super comfortable. For 12 years before this mattress, I had one that never gave me a good night’s rest. That mattress made me wake up with pain everywhere, every single night. This Helix mattress changed my life, literally. I get better, deeper sleep, actually wake up feeling refreshed, and don’t get knots or pain in my shoulders or hips (I’m a side sleeper) like I used to. It is so soft and cool to the touch. My only gripe is how heavy the mattress is. I couldn’t lift and carry it anywhere on my own due to its weight. It took two people to carry. […] I will absolutely be buying another Helix mattress when this ones worn.”
— Alexis M., verified buyer, 6/10/2024
“For my wife and I, this mattress is the perfect fit. We started with the Twilight Luxe, but it was just too firm for us. The Midnight Luxe, however, gives us the support we need but has enough give that we sleep comfortably. The build quality is excellent at more than half the cost of what we saw in the local stores. We’re sleeping better than over (which I can tell since I track my sleep) and waking up so well rested. Worth every penny!”
— Frank B., verified buyer, 6/8/2024
“Luxurious! Soft but supportive. If you want to sink into comfort while still having enough structure for a good night’s rest, look no further.”
— Kelly H., verified buyer, 4/13/24
Read more in our full Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review.
The DreamCloud Original earned our pick for the “Best Memory Foam Mattress” because it’s more supportive than the other memory foam mattress on this list—the Nectar Premier, which we picked for best value. Testers said they felt cradled by the material without sinking too far into it. Plus, this mattress provides excellent motion isolation.
The mattress comes in two options: a pure memory foam version and a hybrid option that replaces the 8-inch foam base layer with 8-inch springs. We tested the memory foam-only option, which we found medium-firm (6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale). People of average weight should find all sleep positions comfortable, though it may be too firm for lighter-weight side sleepers.
The DreamCloud Original foam mattress starts with a base of dense, CertiPur-US certified foam ⓘ This is a certification given to foam bedding materials that have been tested and confirmed to be environmentally friendly. , meaning it’s made without potentially toxic materials, such as formaldehyde, heavy metals, and chemical flame retardants. This medium-firm base provides good support and excellent motion isolation. When our testers placed a glass of water on the mattress and walked on top of the mattress to the other side, the glass remained standing, and the water barely rippled. Couples or light sleepers should be pleased.
The foam base is topped by four more layers of foam, including gel-infused memory foamⓘ Memory foam with small gel pods designed for cooling , which provides further comfort and support. The top two foam layers are quilted into the cushioned cashmere cover. Memory foam often holds heat. Although our testers said the cover felt cool to the touch during testing, people who sleep hot may want to try a mattress that is made for cooling, like the Helix Midnight Luxe.
That said, the DreamCloud Original mattress doesn’t have any additional support barriers around the edges, which gave it a “sinking” feeling when our testers sat on it. If you have trouble getting in or out of bed, a mattress with a firmer edge, like the Saatva Classic or Helix Midnight Luxe, may offer the extra stability you need.
“Even though it’s a memory foam mattress, I didn’t feel like I was sinking into the material too much when I lay on it. It’s definitely a dense foam that could hold me up while still cradling my body.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The DreamCloud Original has a star rating of 4.6 out of five from more than 8,900 reviews on its product page. Many reviewers say it’s the most comfortable memory foam mattress they’ve owned, but a common complaint is that the mattress can feel too warm.
“I was skeptical about ordering a mattress in a box, but this is the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever had.”
— Katie E., verified buyer, 5/2/24
“This has been a good mattress. I have chronic low back pain, and this mattress is working well so far. It’s not bouncy but has the perfect firmness. I think it is a well-constructed and thought-out foam mattress. Great price and generous return policy. This is the first foam mattress that has worked well for me.”
— Chris E., verified buyer, 4/28/2024
“I am telling everyone I know about this mattress! It’s outstanding! I haven’t slept this well in 10 years. The memory foam mattress that we got is worth its weight in gold.”
— Kristin S., verified buyer, 12/18/23
Read more in our full DreamCloud mattress review.
Our team recommends The WinkBed for its Euro pillow topⓘ A kind of pillow top that’s sewn into the cover of the mattress, this style is flush with the edges of the mattress, providing better support than the typical pillow-top mattress while also offering a soft, plushy center. , which is designed to relieve pressure and maximize comfort. Many pillow top mattresses are made with a fiber-like material to give a more plush feel to the surface of the mattress. A Euro pillow top is made with foam, which provides a more durable, sag-resistant surface without sacrificing pressure relief.
This mattress’s pillow-top cover also incorporates Tencel fibers, which Milly McEwan, an Australian-based product and design manager with RJ Living, said is a name-brand blend of cellulose fibers from eucalyptus trees and other woody plants. “TENCEL fibers are known for their softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties,” McEwan said. “This makes it a really great fiber for regulating body temperature and staying cool and dry throughout the night.”
The Tencel-based pillow top is noticeably soft and cool to the touch, which differentiates it from most other mattresses we’ve tested.
Another advantage of the thick pillow top is that it inhibits motion transferⓘ The amount of movement felt on one side of the mattress when a bed partner moves on the other side of the bed . Most hybrid mattresses we’ve tested score about three out of five for motion isolation, while The WinkBed scored four out of five. It’s one of those rare mattresses that combines a bouncy feel with good motion isolation. When our testers stood on one side of The WinkBed, set a glass of water on the pillow top, and walked on top of the mattress to the other side, the water barely moved.
The WinkBed comes in four firmness options: softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus. We tested the luxury firm, which we rated as true medium firmness (6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale). This is one of the only mattresses in this roundup with a true medium-firmness rating aside from the DreamCloud Original and Bear Elite Hybrid, and research shows this firmness level is the most comfortable for those with general lower back pain.
Our testers had plenty of good things to say about The WinkBed. They loved how soft yet responsive the surface felt due to the denser quality of the Euro pillow top and the bouncy springs underneath, which made it easier to move around and get out of bed. Our testers also appreciated the zoned lower back support from the coils, which helped maintain neutral spine alignment while lying on their back and side.
While our Reviews Team loved this mattress, we acknowledge it may not be for everyone—and so does WinkBeds. We appreciate that they offer a 120-night trial period, and if you don’t like the firmness level you chose, you can pay $49 to exchange it for another model. Unlike other brands, WinkBeds will send you a different firmness level of your choice and allow you to keep both mattresses for up to 60 days while you decide which one you prefer. Then, the company will arrange to pick up the unwanted mattress for you.
We read quite a few positive customer reviews from people who successfully completed an exchange with WinkBeds. According to our January 2024 survey, buyers of The WinkBed were also more likely to rate their customer service experiences as “very good” compared to respondents who purchased a different mattress on this list (46% compared to an average of 30%).
Unfortunately, WinkBeds does not offer white-glove delivery options, so you may need to recruit help from someone you know or schedule help from a moving company to get this heavy bed-in-a-box into your home, unboxed, and onto your bed frame.
“My weight feels evenly distributed when I lie on my back, which is most comfortable for me. I actually like it better than the Helix Midnight Luxe.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The WinkBed has a star rating of 4.8 out of five from more than 8,600 reviews on its product page. Many people mention how comfortable it is and express satisfaction with WinkBeds customer service./q
“I love this bed. It has helped me relearn what a deep sleep is.”
— W. C., verified buyer, 2/14/2024
“This mattress is one of the best I’ve ever slept on. I immediately felt a difference from my aging memory foam mattress that had me waking up feeling injured every morning. The WinkBed mattress feels high-quality and healthy for my body. The only downside is, sometimes I don’t want to get out of bed!”
— Sarah R., verified buyer, 1/28/2024
“After the third day, I knew I made the right decision. This is my second WinkBed that I have purchased. The first one I put on the guest bed and every guest—and I have a lot of overnight guests—absolutely loved it, and some even went home and bought one.”
— Randall D., verified buyer, 1/17/2024
Learn more in our full WinkBed mattress review.
Our team tested the medium-firm version of the Bear Elite Hybrid and was impressed by how comfortable it felt for side sleeping. It provides a gentle amount of zoned coil support to help reinforce the midsection and align the spine. According to research, zoned support is most comfortable for side sleepers—and for those with generalized lower back pain.
The Bear Elite Hybrid also provides excellent pressure relief at the shoulder and hip to prevent uncomfortable pressure buildup on the joints. It performed just as well for back sleepers, so this is also a great choice for people who switch between their side and back throughout the night.
One tester on our Reviews Team shared their experience with owning the Bear Elite Hybrid:
“My partner and I are combination sleepers who frequently end up on our side, so we bought the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress in the medium firmness level. We are both average weight (between 130 and 250 pounds), although he’s much taller than I am. It accommodates us both comfortably, and compared to our former innerspring mattress, I feel his movements much less throughout the night.”
They’re happy with their purchase, and results from our January 2024 survey show they’re not alone. Half of the survey respondents who owned Bear mattresses completely agreed with the statement, “I am happy with my mattress.”
For comparison, Titan mattress buyers expressed the same level of satisfaction, and Saatva buyers came close at 46%.
Our tester said the only negative to their Bear Elite Hybrid mattress was the off-gassingⓘ The chemical odor given off from a new mattress. The smell is harmless and is usually gone within the first few days. period when it was first unboxed, which is common with most hybrid or foam mattresses. While the chemical scent given off by new foam can be annoying to some people, it is not known to be harmful. It can take about three days for the off-gassing smell to clear out of the bedroom, so take this into account if you purchase a mattress built with foam layers.
The Bear Elite Hybrid comes with a lifetime warranty and a 120-night trial period. White-glove delivery is available, but it will cost an extra $175 at checkout.
If you’re looking for more options, check out our best mattresses for side sleepers review.
“My spine feels neutral when I lay on my side. I have broad shoulders so I can still feel a bit of pressure there, but the rest of my body feels good.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Bear Elite Hybrid has a star rating of 4.6 out of five from more than 3,700 reviews on the brand’s product page. While most people say it’s a great mattress, some negative reviews mention that it gets hot during the night.
“It has only been a bit over a month, but I am currently loving the Elite Hybrid. Great night’s sleep, the back pain I was dealing with from my last mattress is gone. Will see how it holds up, but nothing but positive things to say for now!”
— David D., verified buyer, 5/10/2024
“Expectations blown out of the water! Worth every penny spent. I sleep in every position, so something versatile was needed. This brand came highly recommended from my mom. I absolutely do not regret giving it a try. The ability to choose firmness was awesome, in my opinion. I chose the medium firm and it was the Goldilocks pick for me. So happy I chose this bed.”
— Nichole T., verified buyer, 4/28/2024
“This has been the most comfortable mattress I have had in a long time. Normally I sleep on my side, but when I try different positions I am comfortable in any position.”
— Bruce O., verified buyer, 3/29/24
Learn more in our Bear mattress review.
The luxury firm Nolah Evolution 15″ is a thick mattress with the perfect balance of support and pressure relief for back sleepers. Because of its balanced feel and excellent functional support for ease of movement while in bed, it also appears in our best mattress for back pain review as a top-rated mattress for lower back pain.
According to our testing results, the Nolah Evolution 15″ provides a nice amount of contour with obvious support, though it’s not quite as supportive as the innerspring-hybrid Saatva Classic. To achieve this supportive contouring, Nolah designed a unique layer of foam called AirFoam, which features rows of small holes in the parts of the foam where the shoulders and legs rest, allowing them to sink into the material more. Solid foam under the lower back provides steady support to keep the spine in a neutral position. And as with other mattresses in this review, the coils along the center of this mattress are stronger than the coils at the head and foot of the bed, providing even more lower back support.
Although our team recommends the luxury firm Nolah Evolution 15″ for back sleepers, it’s adaptable enough to comfortably accommodate all sleep positions and body types. This mattress could be a good option for couples who sleep in different positions. With good motion isolation, light sleepers shouldn’t have trouble staying asleep when their partner changes positions or gets in and out of bed.
The Nolah Evolution 15″ comes with a 120-night trial period and a lifetime warranty. White-glove delivery is optional through a third-party called Load Up at a cost of $150–$300, depending on whether you need mattress setup, old mattress removal, or both. And if you’re confident in your purchase from the start, you can remove the trial period and save up to $150 on your purchase.
“I can feel the mattress supporting my lower back. I sink into the top layer of material, but not too far. I feel well supported with no pressure buildup.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Nolah Evolution has a star rating of 4.9 out of five from more than 890 reviews on its product page. Many reviewers say the mattress is comfortable and has helped resolve pain, especially in the hips.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the quality of the mattress and our comfort. We chose Nolah based on the recommendations regarding hip discomfort. It has led to eliminating hip discomfort for my wife. We chose the Plush. It is softer than we are used to, but as we’ve gotten older it is much more comfortable than the firm mattresses we used to have. […] So far, we couldn’t be more pleased. The free pillows are great too!”
— Rick M., verified buyer, 2/18/2024
We’ve had the Nolah Evolution 15 King Luxury Firm for over six months now. So far, we are very happy and sleeping comfortably. No visible signs of body dips, nor do we feel any when we’re on the mattress. Time will tell how it holds up, but so far, this has become our favorite mattress.”
— Dannette S., verified buyer, 10/1/2023
“Needed something to replace my old mattress. Saw the Nolah on a morning show and took a chance. Glad I did. Within two days, I was getting at least six hours of sleep. This is up from three to five broken hours. I wake refreshed and ready to start the day. I know the mattress made a difference since it is the variable in my sleep routine. It was worth the money. Would definitely recommend.”
— PJ M., verified buyer, 9/28/2023
Learn more in our full Nolah mattress review.
Titan, a Brooklyn Bedding brand, specializes in mattresses for higher-weight people. Those with higher body weights tend to need a firmer, more responsive mattress for adequate support of the spine and to prevent the mattress from sagging over time. According to our testing results, the Titan Plus does a great job of this while still providing a great amount of pressure relief for a comfortable night’s sleep.
We gave this mattress an eight out of 10 on the firmness scale, with a high level of surface support and bounce, making this a responsive mattress. For similar reasons, the Titan Plus also gets a good functional support score, so it should be easier to change positions and get out of bed compared to mattresses without coils.
Despite its springy feel, testers were surprised by the above-average motion isolation in the Titan Plus. This is likely due to the motion-dampening memory foam and pocketed coils that prevent motion from rippling across the surface. Couples shouldn’t feel their partner tossing and turning, but they may feel larger movements, like when their partner gets in or out of bed.
If you have a lighter-weight partner, you may need to consider upgrading to the Titan Plus Luxe version. The Titan Plus mattress will feel more dense to those who weigh less (closer to 130 pounds) and may not relieve enough pressure to be comfortable for them. The Luxe adds an extra layer of contouring memory foam to disperse pressure while maintaining the same amount of support as the standard Titan Plus.
If you’re unsure which version to try, consider taking advantage of the 120-night trial period. Whichever mattress you choose gets a 10-year warranty. Unfortunately, there are no white-glove delivery options, so make sure to arrange for help carrying the mattress into your bedroom and setting it up on your bed frame.
“I felt best on my back and stomach. My spine felt neutral and I didn’t sink in too much. It felt too firm for me to be comfortable on my side.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Titan Plus has a star rating of 4.7 out of five from more than 2,500 reviews on the brand’s product page. Most reviewers are happy with the mattress and say it’s supportive, firm, and comfortable.
“Love this bed! Gives the support we need and I’m not tossing and turning all night anymore. Has made a big difference in the amount of sleep we are getting.”
— Lori D., verified buyer, 5/25/2024
“This is perfect for overweight people. I put a pillow topper on my mattress for my arthritis. Oh my, it’s even better. I slept better. Thank you!!”
— Mary M., verified buyer, 5/25/2024
“Amazing mattress, perfect for my 6’7″ 325-pound body. Very good support that I was missing with other mattresses.”
— Robert S., verified buyer, 5/4/2024
Learn more in our full Titan Plus mattress review.
If you’re looking for a pressure-relieving mattress, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is our top pick for older adults. The medium-firmness version scored five out of five during our pressure map testing, so it provides the maximum amount of pressure relief you can get from a mattress.
“We are naturally designed to adapt to pressure,” said Lindy Royer, a physical therapist and balanced body educator in Centennial, Colorado. “You will naturally and unconsciously move and adjust to [pressure].”
At night, that movement might take the form of tossing and turning. Royer said the pressure can turn painful if it impacts circulation, nerves, or inflamed areas. A pressure-relieving mattress, like the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, may help reduce pain associated with pressure and lead to fewer adjustments in the middle of the night.
Unlike other mattresses we’ve tested with high pressure relief scores, like the Bear Elite Hybrid, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe doesn’t contour the body as deeply. This is because it’s a firmer hybrid (about a 7.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, according to testing results) made with responsive foam and coils, which helps it maintain a more supportive surface. This makes it easier to move around in bed. Our team loves this mattress for people who have painful joints, like arthritis, because you don’t have to sacrifice support for cloud-like comfort.
For more on mattresses our Reviews Team has tested for people with joint pain, check our roundup of the best mattresses for arthritis.
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe also has sturdy edge support to help you feel stable when sitting on the edge of the bed. Couples may find that it doesn’t isolate motion well compared to other options on this list, but our testers said it felt cool to the touch and may help you sleep comfortably if you tend to feel hot at night.
This mattress comes in three firmness levels. If you need a softer or a firmer version, you can opt for it at checkout. Your purchase comes with a 120-night trial period and a 10-year warranty, but similar to most mattress brands, white-glove delivery is not available. Our testers found this mattress bulky, so make sure to recruit or hire help to move it into your home upon delivery.
“I felt best on my back and stomach. My spine felt neutral and I didn’t sink in too much. It felt too firm for me to be comfortable on my side.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe has a star rating of 4.7 out of five from more than 3,300 reviews on the brand’s product page. Many reviewers say it’s a comfortable mattress that has helped relieve aches and pains.
“I just love this bed. It has to be the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept on. It took quite a bit of research before making a decision, but I chose well. Firm, but not too firm, it’s just perfect. I highly recommend this mattress.”
— William M., verified buyer, 5/23/2024
“Buying a mattress is not easy. Buying online is even more difficult. We knew we wanted a hybrid that would sleep cool and not transfer much motion. We are both slender and side sleepers. The Aurora Luxe ticked the boxes for a decent price so we took a chance. So glad we did. Many months later and it’s still a little bit like climbing into a hotel bed. Soft on top yet incredibly supportive underneath. We got the medium, for reference. Very happy with our choice.”
— Amy S., verified buyer, 5/23/2024
“I’ve been sleeping on the bed for a week now and all is good. Pressure points don’t hurt, back doesn’t ache, and I want to stay in bed instead of getting up. I’m so glad I chose this mattress! The cooling aspect has helped with nightly hot flashes too.”
— Melanie F., verified buyer, 3/16/2024
Learn more in our full Brooklyn Bedding mattress review.
Our Reviews Team has dedicated more than 1,000 hours to researching the mattress industry, consulting more than 10 health care professionals, and testing roughly 40 brands and 130 unique mattress models for quality and comfort. We’ve also interviewed eight older adults who recently purchased a mattress and surveyed more than 3,200 recent mattress customers to understand their experiences shopping for a new bed.
Each mattress undergoes a rigorous 36-page testing procedure to score its different characteristics, including firmness, support, and other aspects most shoppers consider. We choose the overall best mattresses based on these scores. See how we tested the most important considerations for this review below.
Like most mattress brands in the industry, we use a one-to-10 scoring method when testing firmness. Softer mattresses get lower scores and firmer mattresses get higher scores. A score of 6.5 is considered medium-firm in the industry. Our testers rate firmness by lying on the surface and comparing the feel to other mattresses we’ve tested. Material density and coil strength influence firmness the most.
When selecting the best beds overall, we preferred models available in different firmness levels. This allows buyers to select a firmness that feels best to them. Otherwise, we favored medium-firm mattresses because they can support most sleep positions.
We rate pressure relief on a scale of one to five, with five being the most pressure relieving. We use a pressure map with sensors to visualize pressure points around the body accurately. Blue and green pressure map results show great pressure relief, while yellows, oranges, and reds indicate pressure buildup. Our testers also consider how the mattress feels when lying on their back and sides, paying special attention to discomfort in the shoulders, back, and hips. We recommend mattresses with high pressure relief scores because they’re the most comfortable.
We score support on a scale of one to five, with five being the most supportive. Mattresses with strong support contour and push into the curves of your body, particularly the lower back or midsection. Not only do we feel support during testing, but we can also visualize it through pressure map results. Maps with mostly white space at the lower back show how the mattress isn’t making contact with the area, which means the mattress isn’t supportive. We prefer mattresses with high support scores because they’re more likely to keep the spine in healthy alignment for maximum comfort.
We score edge support on a scale of one to five, with five being the strongest. Our team tests this by sitting and lying on the edge to determine how safe it feels. We also measure how far it sinks. For example, if a short 11-inch mattress’s edge sinks about 2 inches, it may feel weak because it collapses under body weight. Edge support matters most for people with limited mobility and those who sleep on the edge of the bed. While we prefer mattresses with high edge support scores, we may recommend a mattress with a lower score if it scored exceptionally well in other areas.
We use a temperature gun to determine how well a mattress disperses body heat. If the mattress heats up more than 15 degrees, it’s considered a poor score. If it only heats up 5–10 degrees, it’s considered a good or excellent score. The feel of the material under our body is also factored into the score, with one indicating a poor score and five indicating good cooling technology. We may recommend a mattress with a lower cooling score if it performed exceptionally well in other areas.
Motion transfer is scored on a scale between one and five, with five being the most motion isolating. To score this, one tester lies on one side of the mattress while another tester changes positions while lying on the other side. We score this feature by how much movement we can feel across the mattress. If we don’t feel movement, the mattress dampens motion well and scores a five out of five.
Our January 2024 survey indicates that motion transfer isn’t a top priority for most mattress buyers—even among those who share their bed with a partner, children, or pets. This is why we didn’t place much emphasis on motion transfer scores when selecting the best mattresses overall.
Our team scores bounce on a scale between one and five, with five being the bounciest. We test this by dropping a 10-pound weighted ball on the mattress surface, recording how many times it bounces, and analyzing the sound of its landing. The ball will bounce multiple times on bouncier mattresses before cradling into the surface, while others thud onto the material, indicating low bounce. Bounce can make it easier to move around on a mattress but also tends to lower the motion isolation score. We didn’t prioritize bounce scores when curating our list of the top rated mattresses.
Our team developed this unique score to understand how well a mattress accommodates issues with in-bed movement, like difficulty moving around or getting up from the bed. We combined firmness (30%), support (30%), bounce (10%), and edge support (30%) to create a score between one and five, with five being the most helpful for movement in bed.
While we like to see high functional support scores for pain management, for our list of the best mattresses overall, we considered mattresses with lower functional scores if they performed exceptionally well in other categories.
To learn more about our testing and scoring methods, review our sleep methodology.
We continuously test new mattresses to make sure we provide up-to-date rankings and reviews. We also regularly retest popular mattresses to develop deeper insights and confirm or challenge our previous findings. Check back regularly for updates.
The best mattress on the market is the one you find most comfortable and helps you sleep well throughout the night. Based on our testing and brand research, we placed the Saatva Classic at the top of our picks, but you may choose another mattress that caters to your specific needs. Shopping for a mattress is a highly personal experience, so make sure you consider the following before you buy.
Sleep is an essential function for everyone. The human body and all of its organs, tissues, nerves, and functions simply are not made to be operating 24/7. Sleep creates a function for the body to rest and recover. Our organs and bodies function better and more healthily if they get enough sleep.
— Dhaval Desai, physician at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia
The type of mattress you need often depends on your sleep position. Although there is no steadfast rule, there are some general guidelines we’ve found through our conversations with experts that can help you choose the ideal mattress for your needs. Here’s what you need to keep in mind based on your sleep position:
While a softer mattress may initially feel plush and comforting, it can cause sagging or misalignment of the spine over time, leading to increased back pain. Firmer mattresses, on the other hand, can provide better support for the spine, reducing discomfort. Yet an overly firm mattress may be too hard for some individuals, especially for side sleepers or those with joint pain.
The ideal mattress offers a balance of support and softness, allowing for proper spinal alignment without causing pressure point pain. It should be suited for your individual sleeping position and comfort needs, and serve as a place where you feel relief from ongoing pain concerns.
Talk to your doctor first if you’re looking for a new mattress to sleep better because of insomnia or pain. There may be other ways to get better sleep.
According to Dhaval Desai, a physician at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, a close look at your sleep hygiene should be first. “We should really consider other factors, like bedroom lighting, screen time, room temperature,” he said.
Treatments, like cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), have been shown to be superior to benzodiazepine (depressants) and non-benzodiazepine (sedatives) medications in the long term. To learn more, read our article on aging and sleep.
Your weight and size may influence the type of bed you purchase. Lighter-weight sleepers (less than 130 pounds) often perceive mattresses to be firmer than they are, while higher-weight sleepers (more than 250 pounds) may perceive mattresses to be softer. Some materials, like memory foam, may not provide the support and durability many higher-weight sleepers need. And if you need more space on your bed, you may want to consider a larger mattress, like a king or California king.
Our team hosted a focus group of seven recent mattress shoppers. One participant regretted purchasing a queen-size mattress for himself and his wife. They both move often in their sleep, so their queen-size bouncy hybrid mattress would wake them both up throughout the night.
The lesson learned is how important it is to consider your partner’s sleep preferences when shopping for a mattress, as it may affect your sleep quality. Couples may need a mattress with adequate motion isolation to limit sleep disturbance. Good edge support is also beneficial, as it allows you and your partner more real estate to adjust and spread out without feeling like you’ll fall off the bed. And if you need more space, a larger mattress or a split king may be worth considering.
Cooling can be a consideration, but we don’t place too much emphasis on this feature because it’s easily influenced by other factors, like bedroom temperature and bed sheets. Cooling features are also a misnomer—they’re designed to prevent heat-trapping but don’t actively cool your body. If you’re a hot sleeper, mattresses with better airflow, like innersprings or hybrids, are your best bet. You can pair your mattress with “cooling” sheets like bamboo, phase-change materialⓘ A material that stores or releases heat to maintain a constant temperature. , or TENCELⓘ A brand of lyocell fiber made from wood pulp that’s known for being soft, breathable, and absorbent. .
Mattresses can be made of different materials, which can influence the feel and firmness of the bed. While there is no rule dictating which mattress composition is best for different sleep positions, the properties of each material could better suit some sleep preferences, as detailed below.
Innerspring mattresses are mostly made of coil layers, which provide a supportive, bouncy, and responsive feel. Coils also offer plenty of space for airflow, so innerspring beds can sleep cooler than other materials.
Many innerspring mattresses tend to be medium to firm, making them a good choice for back and stomach sleepers who like the springy feel. They’re also good for those who want a mobility boost as they move around the bed. But innerspring mattresses don’t isolate motion well, which means your movements could disturb a sleeping partner.
Foam mattresses contain layers of spongy material. Foams vary in density for different purposes—softer foams relieve pressure well, while denser foams provide higher firmness levels and more support.
People who like foam mattresses enjoy the feeling of a contouring bed, which is often good for side sleepers who need pressure relief from the hip and shoulder. But those with mobility issues or who change positions frequently may feel stuck in the material.
These mattresses are often preferred by light-sleeping couples who are easily disturbed by their partner’s movement because foam dampens motion well. Unfortunately, foam is notorious for heat-trapping, so keep this in mind and consider cooling bed sheets.
Hybrid mattresses combine foam’s pressure relief with innerspring’s support and responsiveness. Although the composition of a hybrid mattress varies across brands and models, the general formula is the same: foam layers atop coil. Firmness, support, cooling, and pressure relief also vary from mattress to mattress, but hybrids do a good job of accommodating a wide variety of sleepers.
Air chamber mattresses are the most technical. They use adjustable air pockets in the mattress to control firmness level. Sleep Number is a classic example, using remote controls to customize the bed’s feel. But online mattress brands also offer air chamber mattresses, like the Saatva Soliare. Most sleepers should feel comfortable on this type of mattress, but it’s a costly option.
Eco-friendly brands and models often use latex, which is a natural alternative to foam. Latex is similar to foam because it offers high pressure relief, but it’s more resilient and responsive, making it a good option for those with mobility issues. It’s also better at dispersing heat away from the body than foam, but it’s more costly because latex is harder to source.
These mattresses could be all latex or incorporate coil, so the bed’s feel will vary between models. According to our testing results so far, latex tends to feel like a dense memory foam, so it’s often perceived to be medium firmness.
It can feel difficult to commit to a mattress you’ve never tested to see if it’s comfortable for you. Purchasing a mattress in-store can give you some peace of mind, but ultimately, you’ll never know if it’s the best mattress for you until you take it home and sleep on it for a few nights. We like how many online mattress brands offer lengthy trial periods that meet or exceed the industry standard of 100 nights.
Online mattress shopping has its perks. You can compare features across more mattress brands than you would in a store without pushy salespeople. But if you aren’t sure what features and firmness levels you prefer, we recommend visiting a mattress retailer and comparing beds in person. You’ll feel more confident purchasing your mattress after testing a few out yourself, regardless of where you choose to buy.
Waiting for a mattress sale could save you hundreds of dollars. Although many mattress brands run promotions throughout the year, we see the best mattress deals around major holidays, like Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving (Black Friday). Mattresses tend to be 25%–50% off during these sales.
Once you’ve chosen a mattress, keep an eye on the brand’s website to watch for any promotional deals. Sales tend to happen every few weeks. We regularly update this page with discount and sale information, so you can also return here to see what’s on sale.
Getting a poor night’s sleep due to discomfort is the No. 1 sign you need to replace your mattress. But you may be able to extend the life of your mattress by rotating or flipping it so you aren’t sleeping on a worn-out area. Not all mattresses can be flipped, though, so consider contacting the manufacturer to see if it’s recommended.
Another thing to try is using pillows under or between your knees to ease muscle and joint pain, or sleeping in a different position. This can help you figure out if the mattress is to blame or not.
Otherwise, there’s no expiration date for mattresses. Seven to 15 years is the industry’s general response for how long a mattress may last, but there are always exceptions. Some start to sag after a few years, while others may last 25 years or more.
In addition to sagging material, other good reasons to consider replacing your mattress include lumps and dips, coils that poke through the upper layers, stitching that comes loose, lingering odors, and signs of infestations like bed bugs. If you suspect the mattress has a manufacturing defect, a repair or replacement may be covered under your warranty.
We recommend purchasing a waterproof mattress protector to help prolong the life of your new mattress.
| Mattress type | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid and Memory Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Soft | Plush soft, luxury firm, firm | Medium | Medium | Softer, luxury firm, firmer, plus | Soft, medium, firm | Plush, luxury firm, firm, comfort plus | Firm | Soft, medium, firm |
| Trial period | 365 nights | 365 nights | 100 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | 15 years | Limited Lifetime | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | 10 years | 10 years |
| White-glove delivery* | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
*Delivery and setup of new mattress and removal of old mattress
Ultimately, weighing factors like cost, firmness levels, materials, delivery terms, and trial periods, along with your body type and sleep position, is critical when shopping for the best mattresses. The Nectar Premier is our best overall pick, with the Saatva Classic and Helic Midnight Luxe close behind, all the mattresses on this list have been tested and approved by our Reviews Team. We hope our list helps you make an informed decision about which one is right for you.
Aside from budget, both your sleeping position and desired firmness level ultimately determine which mattress is best for you. If it’s your first time shopping around in a while, it’s a good idea to visit a showroom and lie on a few mattresses to understand what you prefer. But you’ll never truly know if you’ll like a mattress until you sleep on it at home, which is why it’s also important to choose a mattress with a lengthy trial period and clear terms for returns.
Although online reviews aren’t always the best indicator of a good mattress, Saatva has one of the best reputations among online mattress brands. This bed has 4.8 out of five stars on Better Business Bureau and 4.6 out of five stars on Trustpilot. When our Reviews Team hosted a recent focus group, two of the eight participants raved about their Saatva mattresses (both the Classic and Zenhaven Natural). In our January 2024 survey, 46% of Saatva buyers said they completely agreed with the statement, “I am happy with my mattress.” That’s the second-highest percentage on the survey, trailing Bear and Titan with 50% each.
The average mattress lasts between seven and 15 years, depending on wear-and-tear.
The best time to purchase a mattress is around major holiday sales, like Labor Day and Memorial Day, but most brands offer promotions year-round.
You should consider buying a new mattress if your current one is between seven and 15 years old, depending on the wear-and-tear. But if you’re thinking about buying a new mattress to address a condition like back pain, talk to your health care provider first. They may have recommendations based on your symptoms.
We’ve spoken to sleep doctors, surgeons, physical therapists, and other medical professionals while researching mattresses. Based on our interviews, we know doctors sometimes recommend a particular firmness level or even an adjustable bed for different medical conditions, but their main piece of advice is to find a mattress that’s comfortable and allows you to get a good night’s sleep. Because no mattress can accommodate everyone’s preferences, pain concerns, or body type, it’s important to assess your needs and shop accordingly.
No particular type of mattress will be most comfortable for everyone, but hybrid mattresses are a popular choice. Made with a combination of foam and coils, they offer the sinking, cradling feeling of a foam mattress with the bouncy support of an innerspring mattress. They come in different firmness options to match your personal preferences, as some people enjoy soft, plush mattresses, and others prefer firm surfaces.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
